Structure And Location Of The Canine Fossa On The Maxilla

Description

Canine fossa (fossa canina) lies on the anterior surface of the maxilla, just lateral to the canine eminence and superior to the canine root region of the alveolar process. The depression sits inferior to the infraorbital margin and typically medial to the zygomaticomaxillary buttress, with the infraorbital foramen positioned superolateral to the fossa on the facial (anterior) maxillary wall. Medially, the fossa approaches the piriform aperture and lateral nasal wall, while inferiorly it blends into the smooth curvature above the dental alveoli. This is a thin bony area. Clinically, the canine fossa corresponds to a weakened portion of the anterior maxillary wall overlying the maxillary sinus, making it a familiar landmark in Caldwell-Luc access and in older descriptions of anterior antrostomy. Dental and facial pain patterns also relate here: pathology from the maxillary canine or first premolar can refer to the infraorbital region, and periapical infection may spread into the canine space, producing swelling that effaces the nasolabial fold. The spatial relationship between the fossa and the infraorbital foramen matters when teaching infraorbital nerve blocks, because the foramen is superior and lateral to the fossa and must be approached with attention to the orbital rim and maxillary buttresses. Dental anatomy courses use this illustration to teach surface landmarks of the maxilla alongside tooth root topography and paranasal sinus relations, and surgical atlases can pair it with approaches to the maxillary sinus and midface trauma fixation points. It also fits well in patient-facing education on odontogenic infection pathways and infraorbital nerve anesthesia, where a single anterior bony landmark reduces ambiguity. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.